After 11 years as an Infantryman...I'm now a cable guy with an opinion.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

"Anybody But Bachmann" Syndrome will fail

It's been interesting talking to delegates about the race in the 6th. Elwyn's denial of lobbyist work makes for interesting conversations.

"Will my town still have to pay the Tinklenberg Group to lobby him, if he were elected to Congress?"

"Not a lobbyist...a consultant. Pro-life...pro-choice. Anti DOMA...pro-civil union. Pro-war...anti-war. How can I vote for a guy who has more positions than the Kama Sutra?"

"All I want is to see Bachmann beaten, 'Anybody But Bachmann'".

"Anybody But Bachmann" gets us beat in November 2008. Not just anybody can beat Congresswoman Bachmann.

Liberals, Progressives, and Democrats went down this road in 2004.

Remember the "Anybody But Bush" fad? How'd that work out for us?

As 18 year old's fight in a war that started when they were in the 8th grade, I'd say not so good.

As my 401k has actually had a negative rate of return for the second consecutive quarter now, I'd say not so good.

We've all witnessed our collective fates when we sacrifice our core progressive values, to support the "Anybody But" candidate.

Are we going to compromise our core progressive values in the 6th for an "Anybody But Bachmann" candidate? I sure hope not!

Months ago, I thought the choice would be pretty tough, between Bob Hill, Bob Olson and the hint of Elwyn Tinklenberg joining the race made it even tougher at the time.

Over time, with Bob Hill exiting the race, Tinklenberg's MnDOT and lobbying pasts, as well as his inconsistency on core progressive issues, have made the choice much easier for myself and delegates I have had the pleasure of talking to.

We've gone down the road of a social moderate running in the 6th. Janet Roberts did not fair very well against Mark Kennedy.

As a pro-choice, pro equality in marriage, anti war, pro Veteran, progressive, I cannot support a candidate who does not identify with values that are the core of our party. Elwyn Tinklenberg does not reflect these strong Democratic values.

Bob Olson does.

Olson is strong on choice.

Olson strongly supports equlity in all marriages.

He has opposed this war since its inception.

He helps working and middle class Minnesotan's go to college, buy homes, and take steps towards fulfilling the "American Dream."

Elwyn Tinklenberg is our "Anybody But" candidate. Nice guy, but has too much baggage and is not consistent enough to actually defeat Bachmann.

He'd try to make us feel good though, while getting trounced 59-39 in November 2008.

"Anybody But Bachmann" gets us beat in November.

Of the 2 remaining candidates in the race for the DFL endorsement, Bob Olson is the only candidate that can beat Michele Bachmann...